Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Beginnings ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer:

I don't own anything except for a certain unnamed gentleman's sock which he quite unknowingly left in my bed just last week. If he would like to see it returned, he need merely openly state that I am his goddess, love, and ruler of his heart. That's all.

Beginnings

Carpetfibers

Chapter 11

His panting breaths poured out in billowing clouds that quickly evaporated in the unseasonably warm sunlight. The locals were calling this sudden blooming a false spring, and warned of incoming blizzards and cataclysmic snow storms. Kyou had a hard time giving any of those warnings credence as he stood basking in the bright morning light. The strangely soothing warmth radiated around him, accenting his reddish hair that had been darkened by the frequency of his indoor activities. Its rays illuminated his upturned face outlining a visage that had lost its roundness of youth. His already prominent cheekbones gave a finite line of manhood to his visage. The once boyish good looks had evolved into something with hints of wisdom and knowledge. There was a sense of Kyou having known things far too early in life that marked his mouth, a sense of tragedy, almost comic in its immediate appearance.

Mostly though, it was his eyes that showed the passing of time and the end of his adolescence. Their amber hues had softened and lost much of their anger. A sense of stoic acceptance took the anger's place- maturity as some might describe it. Kyou rather saw in his eyes a reflection of the change in his manner. The angry words and gesticulations that had once been so common and so easily provoked, just didn't contain the heart or authenticity that they once had. Instead, he found himself thinking more and speaking less; wanting to understand more and act less; he didn't know if it was because of Tohru's influence or if it was merely yet another sign that this side of his consciousness was instinctively preparing itself for retreat.

The steady weakening of his body and of his will power only made him the more desperate to beat Yuki once and for all. He needed just the once- just the once!- and then his fears could be put to rest. Akito had promised that if he beat Yuki he'd be freed from the fate of every Sohma held by the cat's spirit before him. All he needed- all he had to do was beat him the once.

And so it was that he had left Tohru and Yuki still sleeping in the house to start his regular regimen of running and training. His training basically entailed gaining better agility. He had narrowed down where his weaknesses were in regards to fighting the damn rat: he simply couldn't move fast enough. He had the strength and the power, just not the mobility.

His special clearing bubbled with the familiar sensations of spring: bursting blossoms sodden with yellow balls of pollen; the distinctly salty tinge to each breath taken; the distant hum of insects; and most naturally the heady emotion that nearly always flowed through his blood when spring came. It was as if each and every nerve in his body was attuned to that of the outside world. Kyou felt more alive this spring than he had in years past, but this blissful sensation only added onto his growing fears. Behind every practiced turn, and every painful pull of already overly stretched muscle came a voice, a coaxant shouting, screaming, and worst of all whispering that more was needed; he still needed to do more, train more, fight more, prepare more- that he needed more. That he needed time above all else.

But minutes were disappearing- minutes of consciousness, of control were slipping away. He'd feel dizzy and a pounding headache would rush to the base of his neck, each pulsing blood cell seemingly stabbing away at him. And then all would turn black; he'd awake minutes later yards away from where he had been, or in the process of doing something entirely new. Once he had woken from the empty place he vanished into standing behind Tohru who was washing their clothes. He had parried off her worries by claiming that he had wanted to sneak up on her. Naturally, she had believed him. It was that particular instance that drove his worries to a peak. Was this thing inside him going after her? Did it want Tohru? If that was true- if this monster beneath his skin sought after her, then it'd only be a short while before he'd have to leave. Again, time was driving the reigns far too close.

His brows taunt and glimmering with sweat, Kyou stretched out his tanned arms, reaching upwards from his shoulder and down his torso until he could feel his fingers just barely graze the small of his back. With a deep breath, he pushed his muscles even farther. It was only when he felt a dangerous throb in his shoulder that he released his arms and refocused on his legs. In the simultaneous motions of stretching and breathing deeply, he tended to fall into a stupor, half asleep, half awake.

It was in these half waking moments that he found clarity. Kazuma-sensei liked to start each training session with meditation, but it wasn't until the physical activity had actually started that Kyou had found any peace. The war that constantly raged in his blood for dominance over his will only rested when his physical pain intermingled with his emotional. It was almost masochistic in its details, and he didn't particularly enjoy analyzing this specific aspect of his personality. Simply put, pain reminded him that he was alive, that he existed. The muscle aches and constant soreness reminded him every minute of the day that he was still breathing, that he, Kyou Sohma, had not been erased from this plane of existence. No matter what Akito said; no matter what Akito thought.

It didn't matter, because he was alive.

He remembered once having walked in on a boy in the gym at his middle school. The boy had seemed fairly well put together: did great in his grades, had a good group of friends, and teachers liked him just enough to make him popular with the girls and still buds with the guys. Kyou had thought the kid had it all together. It only goes to show that no one is who he appears to be. This well made boy with all the perks of a school age life had been slicing up his thighs with a razor blade in the dank confines of the blue and green checkered room, systematically stabbing into his skin, leaving behind cuts that oozed scarlet lines of blood.

Kyou had watched him half entranced, half repulsed. The boy had finally noticed him and immediately had dropped the razor blade into his locker and changed back into his uniform. The boy had walked past Kyou with one of his normal little smiles and a light pat on the shoulder. Kyou hadn't confronted him then, nor did he afterwards. They'd pass each other in the halls, a mutual understanding between the two. He could understand the compulsion to live the two lives- one of perfection and the other of inner torment. It was something he could easily fathom, easily appreciate. Although, he had never been given the chance to live up to the full aspects of a Janis, Kyou could understand.

A breeze reminiscent of the not to far gone winter winds swept up through the brush and teased a lock of tousled hair into his face. Through the sheen of sweat that covered his body, a chill overtook his back. Why was it that his thoughts were always so morbid? And how was it that he only just thought of Kazuma-sensei now? There had been so many times when they had first left that his mind had returned to the patient ways of his adoptive father. An almost overwhelming need to talk to his sensei washed over him. Was this home sickness? A wry grin crossed his pale chapped lips. Home sickness…

Yeah, right. This was his home now. This little place with its grassy hills and roaring cliffs; this little place filled with tight lipped people who had hearts big enough to accept anyone; this little place that braved the ravages of the winter seas and its winds and still remained beautiful. He would miss it when it came time to leave. He'd miss the many images that Chiyo had given him. This place held a sense of peace, a calming nature to it that soothed his very soul, soothed his blood, and soothed his worries.

He fell into the last bits of his regimen, coaxing out the energy to pull at his tired muscles yet again. Agility was needed. Smooth movements that incorporated his strength with speed and versatility. At last he released his sore arms and fell to his back, the rough edges of grass itching at his shoulders and back. The sky overhead stood blissfully blank, its blue edges running effortlessly into the horizon, meeting eventually the waiting fingers of its brother, the ocean. The waters above and the waters below. It felt like if he stretched out his fingers far enough he could actually seize that point of meeting and take it as his own. The impulse to try the childish act was too strong to resist.

Like a child- no, like an enfant that attempts to grab the stars, Kyou lifted his lean arm and grabbed at the intangible point.

"Did you catch it?" a voice whispered at his side.

Kyou dropped his arm, a blush flooding his face to have been caught in such a foolish gesture. Tohru stretched out next to him, her hand shielding her eyes from the sun's glare.

"I thought I'd find you here," she started pleasantly, her voice warm and rich. Strangely, her voice always surprised him; it was a melody that changed with each spoken word, and yet it was a tune he could never remember until he heard the beginning chords.

"I was about to come back; you didn't need to come get me," he answered gruffly, still embarrassed by having his childish little act witnessed.

"I made us a picnic- nothing fancy, just some rice balls and fruit. I woke up right after you left and everything felt so alive, that I just had to come and share it with you." The simplicity with which she laid the thoughts of her heart never failed to surprise him. How was it that she could cut through his defenses so easily?

"What about that guy?" It didn't take a genius to guess at who 'that guy' was. Tohru's smile dipped a little, an odd look overtaking her eyes.

"He said he needed to be alone for a while." Tohru's hand fell to her side and she closed her eyes, the comforting warmth of the sun's long deadened rays caressing her cheeks. "I used to do this with my mother. When spring would arrive, we'd go on picnics every weekend, and stretch out on our blankets and just stare at the sky. Sometimes we'd talk, but mostly we'd just be near each other. She used to say that you know you really love someone when you don't feel the need to speak, when just being near is enough to know."

"Do you miss her?" Kyou asked quietly, easing into this side that he saved only for her.

A small sigh fluttered from her lips. Kyou had that uncanny ability to touch the very root of her feelings, the emotions behind her words. "All the time it feels. I've finally reached the point where I've accepted that she is- that she's not coming back. I still feel guilty sometimes though, which I know she'd hate. When I'm with you and Yuki-kun, and my heart feels so full, I feel as if I'm betraying her, as if I'm betraying her love. It's stupid, I know. Mother would get angry if she knew that I was using her as some kind of shield against the world. She'd want me to live freely, and bravely. But I can't help but feel this way. I wish I was more like you, Kyou-kun. You're so strong and brave, and you don't run away or hide."

The tone with which she uttered the last phrase made Kyou's heart tumble. She said it with such a mixture of pride and affection that the dishonesty with which he really acted made him feel dirty. If she only knew how very frightened he was, how very weak he was-

"You're braver than I am, Tohru. You face your nightmares and try to beat them, while I- I drown in them."

Tohru's eyes flew open, their brown hues suddenly filled with worry. What was that feeling that just came over her? It was like a premonition- unbidden images of the creature that had escaped on that night so long ago flooded her mind's vision. Why should she think of that night of all nights?

"Kyou-kun, what's wrong?" She lifted herself up on her elbows, drawing his eyes to make contact. She heard him wake at night, his breath racing, and images of his fear streaked eyes remained sketched in her memory. He was frightened by something- Kyou who was so brave, and fought so hard was scared. No- he was terrified.

"Its nothing, Tohru," Kyou stated weakly.

"Please, Kyou, I care about you- please just tell me what's wrong? Why are you so worried all the time?" He skirted his eyes, trying in vain to escape her beseeching concern. She only leaned closer, staining her skirt with streaks of grass in the movement.

"I said its nothing, Tohru. I'm hungry, so let's just eat your picnic." He sat up abruptly, turning his back on her while pretending to tie his shoelace. Tohru lifted her hand to his shoulder. She felt as if she didn't press now, then something horrible would happen. It made no sense this anxiety that cloaked her, but for once she wanted to simply trust her feelings, and they were saying- no they were screaming that she needed to find out.

"Tohru-" he bit off his words and breathed deeply, trying to regain the peace he had had only moments earlier. "Just- drop it already. Its none of your business, and I don't need you whining and bothering me about it. Just leave me alone."

Tohru recoiled, stung. He hadn't yelled or shouted, but the coldness with which he had spoken had been so unusual. It was as if he intentionally wanted to hurt her. Unwillingly, tears gathered in her eyes. She quickly stood and brushed the grass from her skirt, tugging on her sandals hurriedly.

"I just remembered, Sanzo-kun said he needed me early today. I'll just- I'll just go now. Sorry to have to leave you. Enjoy your lunch!"

She didn't give him a chance to reply before running into the brush, the branches whipping at her hair. One snapped painfully against her bare leg, a red welt left as its imprint. Kyou stared at that leaves that continued to sway gently in her wake. She was doing it again- pretending to sound happy when she wasn't, using that smile of hers that hid away her feelings.

And it was his fault.

"I'm a fool, a damn fool."

No one answered to his accusation or tried to defend against his words. Apparently, even nature agreed. No surprises there.

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The Chiyo library was certainly not the limelight of social events for the town's people. In fact, the only people who ever frequented the dust filled building were the high school students. And as it was just entering spring, most had found the rigors of studying to be wasting time. When there was sunlight and pleasant breezes, one could pretty much bet his life on the fact that the library would be empty. But Tohru didn't mind this. That only meant that she could lose herself in searching the shelves and leafing through books. Sanzo-kun was so kind to let her wander through the stacked columns.

A fleeting quiver of guilt tugged at her mind; she should be working, not reading! But a quick glance at Sanzo-kun's tousled brown hair and smiling eyes reassured her. He would have told her if he needed help. He was like that. Over the top of her book, she watched him as he studied the computer in front of him. How different he was from Kyou-kun and Yuki-kun. They both had a certain air of distinction, of difference to them, while Sanzo-kun was as normal as they came. He wore dark sweaters and jeans all the time, and rarely took the time to brush his hair. He was constantly losing his reading glasses, and never failed to greet her with a smile. He was a great friend, so willing to listen, and so kind with his advice.

But- and she had thought this over carefully- the warmth that filled her heart when she thought of Sanzo-kun was nothing compared to the feeling that practically drowned her when she thought of Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun. If Sanzo-kun yelled at her- a smile crossed her lips; imagine Sanzo-kun yelling!- she doubted that she'd feel too hurt. All it had taken were a few cross words from Kyou-kun, and look at how much her heart ached!

She didn't want to bother him, and she certainly didn't want to be an annoyance. She was only worried. Worried about both of them. They didn't see how alike they really were. Both wanted the same thing- both wanted her to decide. This love that they claimed to have for her- it was all too confusing. And that she didn't even know her own heart! It was too shameful. She had read in romance books about girls who led guys on, leading them to think that they had a chance, only to tear out their hearts in the end. Was she that kind of girl?

But anyway she put it, the end result was always the same. If she chose- if she actually made a decision- one of them would be hurt. She couldn't ever do that. Not willingly, not consciously. Absently, she turned a page. The heroine of the story had just punched the would be 'soul mate' in the mouth. She knew how this story would end: the heroine would realize how much she loved the poor guy she had just hit, and he would finally give up his wanton ways. The two would save the day, become their country's heroes, and then disappear into the sunset, lips locked.

If only the path could be clear- if only the steps that she should take could be made to stand out, like white lines in a black light. If only- but she was doing the same old again. Supposing and wishing, while doing absolutely nothing concrete. Even in her refusals and pleas for time, she had been vague and elusive. Tohru wasn't doing it on purpose, but it was like there was this huge giant piece of her mind that cried against giving any definites. They both knew themselves so well. Kyou had studied his mind and his body and the ways of his thinking- she could see it in how concretely he voiced his opinions and thoughts. Yuki had always been steadfast and introspective. In trying to forego his past, he had to release his fear. She could see the confidence with which he acted and spoke. She had none of that self knowledge.

How could they possibly expect her to be honest about her feelings for them when she knew almost nothing about herself? The worst damage that her false happiness and fear driven escapism had produced were on herself. In denying her emotions and honest thoughts for so long, she had denied herself. It was only since moving here, and leaving behind the niche that she had created with her friends and school that Tohru finally had stopped her constant moving forward to stand in the present.

A sudden wave of anger and self reproach went through her. It was because of her cowardice that she was stuck in this triangle!

Wearily, she let the book slip from her fingers and land on the floor, the pages falling shut. With one hand she tugged at the back of her loosely made bun. Instead of turning corners over her supposed love woes, she should have been studying. The biggest problem with being out of school was that it was too easy to be distracted. Her final exams and high school completion exam were just two months away. How will she possibly ever be ready?

With a muffled groan, she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts in the fruitless gesture. It didn't matter. Of all the promises Tohru had made in her life, finishing high school was the one that she would keep. It wasn't just for her mother anymore; it was also for herself.

"Yes! Definitely, I will graduate!"

Immediately, she covered her mouth, a bright blush flushing her cheeks. From behind the library desk, Oniji Sanzo tried to hide his laughter as he watched his younger co-worker duck behind another book in an effort to cover her face. Summoning a stern look, he called out across the room.

"Sagara-san, how many times have I told you? No yelling in the library," he laughed openly as Tohru bowed her head low, smacking her forehead against the chair's armrest. Then she too grinned sheepishly and joined his laughter.

Hai, hai, first things first. Study, pass the exams, and then I can worry. I'll do it just fine! I'll do it for you, Mother, and for me.

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"When was this, did you say? And who again?" He could barely make out the garbled voice over the phone line.

"Two and half weeks ago, two, maybe three teenagers. The girl had long brown hair, around 1 meter and half tall. She would have been accompanied by either a young man, 18 years old with gray hair past his shoulders or by another young man close to the same age with red hair and red eyes. They might have been using the last name Sohma or something similar sounding."

The sound of pages turning came through the poor line. Kureno sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time. The search was taking far longer than he had hoped, but of course Dayu wasn't the type of city that one just zipped on through. Plus, the number of youth hostels, bed and breakfasts, hotels, and motels the city held was simply insane. Initially, he had tried visiting each rental place going across the city via streets. Each street he had marked off on a large map that covered a corner of the apartment's wall. So far, he had made it through two thirds of the city.

But his shoes certainly hadn't lasted as long as his voice had. After the first few days of the continuous walking, Kureno had given up the visitation idea for the phone call idea. Now it was his throat that was rubbed raw. But any sacrifice would be made for the Sohma family, for Akito. He just needed to keep that mantra running long enough to believe it.

Finally the hotel manager replied.

"Your descriptions are a little vague, but we did have a young couple stay here for a weekend during that time frame. They went by Sagara though, not Sohma."

Kureno almost dropped the cigarette he had been holding. Finally, a break!

"Did they say anything about where they were from?"

He held his breath as once again the sound of turning pages came through the line.

"Uh, no. They left that line blank. Listen, are they in trouble or something, because my establishment had no reason to think so, and we really can't be held accountable. They seemed fine enough; the girl was real smiley and her husband was very polite."

"Husband? They were married."

"Well, the kid wrote down their names as if they were married. We would never have kept them if they weren't. Yuki and Tohru Sagara."

Kureno didn't bother listening anymore. Absently, he hung up the phone. Of course they could have just been lying, but then again, if they were married, Akito's reaction would be- well, violent to say the least. And Akito had never been one to parry to the phrase 'don't kill the messenger.' He lit up another cigarette and leaned out on the room's balcony. The city lights spread out like a giant flickering parade before him. One of the few qualities that Kureno prided himself on was his ability to weigh pros and cons. As of right now, he had found a name by which to narrow down the search. All Akito had really asked for had been for information. Information on their whereabouts.

As of right now, there was little else he could do in Dayu. If the hotel manager hadn't an idea of where they had come from, then the next best thing would be to search out recent uses of Sagara in public records. Those kinds of resources were not things he could do on his own. The best bet would be to simply wait a little longer and then return with the name. Akito could decide the move from there.

The possible marriage could be left unsaid.

He inhaled deeply, the raw bitter taste of the cigarette filling his throat. Even though the manager hadn't known their whereabouts, didn't mean that one of the maids didn't overhear them talking. Having that kind of information on hand could be advantageous. For now, he'd give Akito a few pieces. He had a loyalty to the family and to Akito, but he wanted to see how things would play out. His younger cousins still had a few cards they needed to be dealt. Kyou was about to be trumped by the greatest dealer of them all- time. He had only two months left before his 18th birthday and the contract was officially tossed into the wind.

Two months really wasn't that long to wait after all. And imagine how pleased Akito would be if the two returned out of their own volition. A tight smile came to his dark lips. Yessiree, an idea was in the brewing.

He flicked the end of his cigarette, the heavy ash falling to the ground below. From the edge of his eye, he made out the figure of a man raising his fist upwards. Kureno released a light laugh. He should have been more careful. The man below should have been more careful that is.

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Tohru shuddered in the suddenly biting wind. In the few hours that she had been in the library, the cloudless sky had suddenly redecorated, deciding on a distinctly gray look. The temperature had dropped almost ten degrees centigrade. She vaguely made out the house's outline in the growing mist. Hurriedly, she opened the door and pushed her way in, tugging it close immediately.

Two heads looked up from their activities at her entrance. The violet haired one took her coat from her hands and handed her a mug of tea, while the red haired one dropped his gaze to the pot he had been stirring. Tohru's shoulders sagged at Kyou's reaction. He must still have been mad at her. A little light headed from the change in temperature, she silently set the table with bowls and spoons. Once finished, she knelt down in her blankets and picked up where she left off on her embroidery. She was currently working on a little decorative sign for the wall that would read 'Home Sweet Home' when finished. She planned on adding little cats and mice to the edges eventually.

"Tohru, did you remember to take your medicine today?" The silence was finally interrupted by Yuki who apparently had been watching her all during her motions.

"Yes, Yuki-kun. I took it this morning before breakfast," she replied trying to keep her voice light.

Still worried, Yuki pressed on. "Did you eat then? You look too pale, Tohru."

"Ah, well, I wasn't very hungry," she stated lamely. Kyou's shoulders tensed up as he glanced at her briefly before continuing stirring.

"You have to eat! It does no good if you don't eat anything, Tohru," Yuki scolded, the concern in his voice making her feel worse than the dangers of possibly passing out again.

"I'm sorry, Yuki-kun. I won't forget again."

A sudden howl of wind screeched outside, the small house shaking in its wake. Yuki cocked his head wonderingly, before finally opening the front door. Almost immediately, a burst of wind rushed in, a cloud of huge snowflakes following close behind.

"Snow?" Tohru asked curiously, before rushing up to look outside as well. Even Kyou dropped his preoccupation with the stovetop to have a look.

All three pairs of eyes opened wide in shock at the raging storm that seemed to have arrived out of thin air. The wind screamed and pulled at the trees while giant waves of cascading flakes soaked down. Compared to the serene warmth of the morning, this sudden snow storm had them all surprised.

"Guess Nayoko-san was right," Kyou whispered absently. He was all too aware of Tohru's nearness, and of her tenseness at the sound of his voice. Yuki nodded in silent agreement before shoving the door close. Kyou stared at the door for a moment longer, gathering his thoughts. He should apologize to her, but when would he get the chance? He really didn't want to let her sleep with his angry words on her mind. But that rat was in the room too…

He returned to the soup on the stovetop. In all honesty, it wasn't Yuki's presence that was stopping him from apologizing, but rather that he genuinely felt ashamed. No matter the reason, he had no right to hurt Tohru's feelings. He had to find a way to let her know how sorry he was…

"Dinner's ready. Hurry up before it cools," he announced, seating himself at the table. His amber eyes softened when the lighted on the sprig of holly Tohru had added to the table. She was always doing little things like that, trying to brighten up their home. Tohru…

She knelt beside Kyou, half wanting to voice how sorry she was for bothering him earlier and half wanting to refuse the soup and simply go to sleep. But neither choice was an option as Yuki would, to the former, want to know what had happened, or, to the latter, give her another scolding. Instead, she sighed and bowed her head before sipping at her soup.

Kyou watched her from the corner of his eye as she held the spoon with one hand and curled the other in her lap. He glanced quickly at Yuki, but he looked miles a way, deep in thought. Thinking again? That rat sure was acting strange. Without bringing on Yuki's notice, Kyou reached his hand around the table's edge and grabbed Tohru's free one. Blushing, he stared at his soup, the different ingredients suddenly very interesting. Gently, he squeezed once.

The soup lost interest as the squeeze was returned. He looked up from the table top and met the warm smile that filled Tohru's face. It said everything- that she forgave him, that she understood, and that all was forgotten. It only made his blush grow. Yuki chose this time to wake from his reprieve.

"I would have thought the school wouldn't want a tutor who wore make up."

"What?" Kyou snapped.

"Last time I checked, cross dressers were seen as bad examples for younger children," Yuki sipped at the soup, pointedly grimacing as he swallowed.

"Cross dressing? At least I haven't had my picture taken wearing a dress that I willingly put on!" Kyou retorted smugly, pleased with his witticism.

"Just another defense mechanism- rather than deal with your own homosexual tendencies you decide to transfer you insecurities onto me. Baka neko."

"Say that again!"

"Baka neko."

"Kuso nezumi!"

Tohru finished off her bowl, a fond smile on her lips as their argument made its thousandth lap. Of all the inconsistencies in her life, their arguing was one constant. And suddenly, despite her worries and the raging wind that struck angrily against the walls, all seemed well in the world.

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Author's Notes:

And once again, I've updated. Yea for me! I'll save my reviewing thank you's for next chapter, ok? I'm just mad tired and am in desperate need of sleep.

Oh but I was inspired to do a little Carpet Caper for Gie.

Carpet Caper: A Furuba love story on Crack

Once upon a time there lived a girl named Gie who desperately loved a character in a manga/anime series called Kyou. How she desired him! She dreamed of him long into the night and even imagined herself cooking him meals and darning his socks.

One day, as Gie was doing damsely things like climbing apple trees, she just so happened to discover a magic apple core. The core was rather wormy and gross looking, yet she kept it long enough to discover that it would grant her one wish. Immediately she wished that her dream man would come to life.

Lo and behold, Kyou appeared below her tree and cried out.

"Oh, Gie, how I love thee! Do fall into my arms!"

Gie, in her happiness and glee, dove from the tree's highest branch towards Kyou's waiting arms. Unfortunately, Kyou hadn't realized that he'd be taken seriously and quickly moved out of the way. And so it was that Gie crashed into the ground and died. Kyou stared at her body for a few moments, shed a sad tear, and then raced off muttering something about beating up damn rats.

In heaven, Gie stared in shock down at her dead body. With tears in her eyes, she beseeched God to give her a second chance. Thankfully, God is great and sent her back. Much to her dismay, however, Gie had failed to mention what she wanted to return as, and as such woke up as a squirrel, forever doomed to chewing nuts and attacking three year old children and elderly men with badly made wigs.

Moral of the story? Don't make wishes on magic apple cores. It never ends well.